Lemony yellows and deep ocean blues make Sorrento a feast for the eyes! Sorrento finds itself in season from Easter through to the deep Autumn of November. Sorrento is small. It’s unbelievably walkable streets make it a joy to stroll, souvenir shop, and eat gelato to your heart’s content. While there a couple of amazing historical sites not too far away, Sorrento is meant for a true Italian vacation. It’s one of the few places that you don’t need to pre-book, research or gear up for any one particular venue. That’s right! Just relax!
Lemons
If Sorrento is symbolized by one thing, it’s got to be the big huge lemons that seems to dot the entire town. The famous lemon groves bring a sunny feeling to the pedestrian lanes and find themselves on everything you can buy from bikinis to dinner plates. Get ready to plan your souvenir shopping around your time in Sorrento as store after store offers every kind of packable trinket you can imagine. Sorrento is not a book a site destination, instead pack your days with strolling eating and drinking limoncello! That’s right! Live a little dolce vita!
Portside Marina
Down below the cliffs that line the coast is the little but mighty marina area. This area known as the Marina Grande is accessible by the twisty switchback road that tumbles down over the cliffs, the ancient seaside staircase or the speedy elevator from the waterside park that will whisk you down for a few euro. Down by the harborside, you can find several restaurants, all the main ferry launches, a few souvenir stores and some of the best beach clubs to enjoy. Check out the stripy piers with plenty of loungers to rent for the day. So, how do you choose which club to visit? Check in with your hotel and let them guide you as the clubs are all pretty much the same cost and provide the same general services. Additionally, many hotels toward the north of town have their own beach club areas. Our favorite? The Hotel Grand Europa.
Capri Day Trip
The mythical and iconic island of Capri is just an hour away by boat and has a ton of amazing sites to check out as well as more shopping a restaurants than anyone could possibly enjoy. Yet, the storied resort status of the island makes staying there a bit out of reach for the economical traveler. We’re big fans of the sail and swim launches that leave the suburban marina (Marina Piccolo) daily. There’s time to enjoy the grottos, time to shop in the big pedestrian area in the town of Capri- or better yet- the far less crowded Anacapri. Ideally, if you are not staying on the island, take a swim and visit launch for the day to enjoy lunch, shop, and then swim in the sea if the waves aren’t too rough!
Pompeii
The iconic national historical site of Pompeii is just minutes away from the coast and is well worth a good morning trip before the heat of the day. We highly suggest booking a tour with a local archeologist who can walk you through the ruins with a great perspective on what happened when the volcano blew. The site is massive and you will not be able to see it all in one day. Further, the new discoveries that are in the news, like the blue room, will not be accessible to the general public. Your guide will walk you through the most popular sites and make stops that enhance the storytelling that brings Pompeii alive. Look for certified guides via the official ticketing booking site.
The Circumvesuvio
The ragtag train that connects Naples to the Amalfi Coast is called the Circumvesuvio. It hugs the Bay of Naples from the Central Train Station to Sorrento making the ride very easy to navigate. Right in the center of the train line is the convenient stop for Pompeii. The station is literal steps from the main ticketing gates making it a super easy train trip from home base Sorrento.
Ferry to Naples
The water offers a great escape to Naples which can be used to visit for the day or make the transition to trains and planes a bit easier if that mode of transport works for you better. There are four direct ferries that each take about 35 to 40 minutes that cost less than $40. The ferry docks are centrally located and can get you to the train station, the airport and the major sites in Naples within 30 minutes depending on traffic.
A word in support of responsible tourism
There has been much talk in the travel industry about acting responsibly when traveling. Please take a moment to seriously consider your accommodations. The local economy of Sorrento has been hit pretty hard by the inflation making buyout of apartments and condos in the pedestrian area. Most of these old residences have been converted into Air B and B’s that are preventing local residents from living in the very neighborhoods they created. This may be a very good destination to fall back on the grand dame hotels just North of the pedestrian area. These hotels employ many local residents and keep a significant amount of money within the local economy.
